Nearly 50 civil servants who accused the Home Office of discrimination because of their age or ethnicity have secured more than £1m in compensation following a tribunal.

The 49 claimants were told they would need to undertake a Core Skills Assessment (CSA) if they were to be considered for promotion, which they all subsequently failed.

CSAs have been long criticised by unions that support Home Office staff, who say success rates for black or minority ethnic (BME) workers, or those older than 35, have been significantly lower than that of other employees.

The Home Office staff were advised that the CSA was discriminatory because of its disproportionate adverse effect, which acted as a bar to BME and older candidates achieving promotion.

Tribunal claims were initiated against the Home Office, which disputed the claims but agreed part way through the hearing– on 27 February – to settle, without admission of liability, and to pay the claimants compensation totalling more than £1m.

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Before the hearing, the department supplied a series of internal reports to law firm representing the claimants, Thompsons, which agreed that the CSA unjustifiably treated BME and older workers unfairly.

Kate Lea, the executive at Thompsons Solicitors who acted for the applicants, said: “While the settlement represents a fantastic result for each claimant and the union, it is disappointing that the Home Office has not offered an apology for continuing to operate discriminatory systems, which was internally acknowledged as being incapable of justification.

“It defies belief that the Home Office knew of the internal findings yet decided to only disclose them the day before the tribunal hearing. The Home Office’s failure to cooperate until the very end caused an avoidable and costly legal battle – wasting time and taxpayer’s money.”

It is understood the Home Office no longer uses CSAs.

A Home Office spokesperson said: “The Home Office is committed to providing fair and equal opportunity for all of its employees.”